Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) has decided to pass on a Senate bid and will run for reelection, leaving Republicans without a top-tier challenger to Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and boosting her chances in the heavily Republican state.

Cramer, a close ally of President Trump’s who was in the running for a cabinet nomination last year, is the latest North Dakota Republican to take a pass on challenging the popular Heitkamp in a state Trump won by a lopsided 63 percent to 27 percent in 2016. His office confirmed to TPM local reports that he’d passed on a Senate bid and will run for reelection.

He’d initially been Senate Republicans’ favored candidate before a series of gaffes early last year. After other potential candidates passed, he once again became their top choice. In recent weeks, both Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had personally lobbied Cramer to run.

His decision greatly increases the chances that Heitkamp won’t face a top-tier opponent in this election — and boosts Democrats’ hopes of making gains in the Senate in the 2018 reelections, and potentially winning back control of the upper chamber.

Looks like all the top tier candidates are bowing out of this race. Seems like The Donald has a bit of trouble closing this deal. Although his pulling out may have something to do with a recent news story

Quote:

Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., is facing reports that he is using campaign funds to pay himself and his family, but the congressman says he's not doing anything wrong.

A report published last week in Politico and Federal Elections Commission Filings shows Cramer paid family members more than $140,000 and reimbursed himself nearly $200,000 since 2013.

Money in politics is a hot button issue, now Congressman Kevin Cramer might be feeling the heat.

Sticking with his safe house seat may just be the best option. But the inability to get any top tier candidates is a rather telling commentary upon the state of today's GOP